Flash-lamp.



PATENTED MAB.. 3, 19.03.

J. LB MAY. FLASH LAMP.

API'LIOATION FILED JULY 25, 1902.

IIIIIM ,l0 MODEL.4

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FLASH-LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 722,117, dated March 3, 1903.

Application filed July 25, 1902. Serial No. 117,038. (No model.)

To @ZZ 071/0772, it may con/cervi,.-

Beit known that I,JOHN LE MAY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Flash-Lamps, of which the following is a specication.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for holding and igniting flash-light powders which will be safe, convenient to handle, inexpensive to man ufacture, durable, and neat and which will ignite the powder by the explosion of a percussion-cap.

The object also is to provide a guard against accidental explosion and to provide a device that can be readily taken apart for the purpose of cleaning. f

I accomplish the4 objects of the invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my lampV with the powder-holder broken away in part; Fig. 2, a section longitudinally of the stem; Fig. 3, a detail of the upper end of the cylinder, showing perforations preliminary to the formation of a fastening or lock therefrom; Fig. 4, a perspective view of same with the parts bent into operative position; Fig. 5, a detail in plan view of the powder-holder; and Fig. 6, a detail of the upper end of cylinder, showing a modification in which the powderpan is screwed upon the cylinder.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 7 represents a cylindrical body or stem, and S is a plunger having a close sliding fit therein. The movements of the plunger can be controlled from the outside of the cylinder by means of the pin 9, which is seated in the plunger and eX- tends to the outside of the cylinder through a slot l() in the cylinder-wall. The length of this slot determines the play of the plunger. Entering the lower portion of the slot is the catch 11, which in practice is the end of a spring-wire 12, which is bentin ample curvature around the cylinder in the manner shown in Fig. 1 and is then carried downwardly of the cylinder and is secured by having its lower end 13 bent at right angles and projected through the cylinder through suitable 15, seated on the end 13 ofthe spring 12, bears p upwardly against the lower end of the plunger S and forces the latter suddenly and violently upward when the catch 11 is withdrawn.

A suitable pan to contain the charge of Hash-light powder is secured to the upper end y of the cylinder 7. This pan will preferably be long and narrow, as shown in Fig. 1,in order to produce a broad fiat flame, which will give more light for the same amount of powder than can be produced with abowl or cup giving a round flame. I do not wish to conne my invention to the use of an elongated trough-like pan, however. The pan 15Zt may be soldered permanently to the end of the cylinder; but for convenience in cleaning the instrument and in making repairs I prefer to make the pan removable. In any case,however,abridge spanning the mouth of thel cylinder for the plunger to press the cap against is required. This bridge 16 in the drawings is formed out of the iiattened end of the cylinder, irst perforated and slitted longitudinally, as shown in Fig. 3, and then bent, as shown in Fig. 4, in which the side strips 17 17 are bent to form shoulders and the tongues 22 are bent out at right angles to the plane of the bridge. The bottom of the pan has a circular opening 18 with rectangular extensions 19 19 therefrom longitudinally of the pan.. Through these combined openings the bridge and shoulders 17 are projected until the contact of the tongues with the bottom of the pan arrests further progress. Then a quarterturn of the cylinder places the shoulders transversely of the pan and brings the tongues under the openings 19, closing the latter and causing the pau to be locked to the cylinder. A barb of the barb, as shown in Fig. 2.

IOO

serves to close the mouth of the cylinder to keep the flash-light powder from dropping down therein. After the cap is in place the chargev of powder is poured over it and is properly distributed in the bottom of the pan.

While setting the plunger and after the plunger is set and until ready for the explosion, the stem should be grasped with the hand between the pin 9 and the pan, so that the accidental release of the plunger will not cause a premature ignition, which will be prevented by the engagement of the pin against the hand, thereby preventing the contact of the'plunger with the cap.

When ready to explode the charge, the lamp is held with the hand on the spring 12. This grasp compels the catch 1l to more closely hold the plunger until the catch is forced out of engagement by the pressure of the thumb against the loop of the spring on the side opposite the catch.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and Wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A iiash-lamp consisting of a hollowr cylindrical stem having a longitudinal slot, a charge-receiver carried by said stem, a bridge across the mouth of the stem, a plunger mounted in said stem, a pin seated in the plunger yand extending outside of the stem through said slot, means for normally urging the plunger toward the bridge and means for holding said plunger against the action of said urging means.

2. A flash-lamp consisting of a hollow cylindrical stem having a longitudinal slot, a charge-receiver detachably secured to said stem, a bridge across the mouth of the hollow stem, a plunger mounted in said stem said plunger having an indent, a pin seated in the plunger and extending through the slot to the outside of the stem, a spring-wire having its end passed through the stem and having a body portion carried thence toward the charge-receiver and terminating in a loop around the stem the end of which loop enters the stem through the slot to form a catch to engage the indent in the plunger and a spring between the plunger and the spring-Wire crossing said stem.

3. A iiash-lamp consisting of a hollow cylindrical stem having its end flattened and its walls perforated and slotted and bent to form lateral locking tongues and shoulders, a charge-receiver having its bottom perforated and slotted to receive said end of the stem, a bridge across the mouth of the stein, a plunger mounted in said stem, a pin seated in the plunger and extending outside of the stem, means for normally urging the plunger toward the bridge and means for holding said plunger against the action of said urging means.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 65 10th day of July, A. D. 1902.

JOHN LE MAY.

Vitnesses:

J. A. MINTURN, DANIEL R. BROWN, Jr. 

